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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bear — the animal
  3. wake — a trail
  4. charge — electricity
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — for catching
  8. mark — a grade
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. pop — to visit
  12. dip — to sink
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. bear — the animal
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mark — a trace
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. pop — soda
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. charge — in control
  21. charge — a price
  22. suit — in cards
  23. net — in sport
  24. pop — music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com